DID YOU KNOW? – Vincent Samuels
March 27, 2016
Posted in Newsletters
- That Black River Harbour which is landlocked by Parottee Point to the east and Luana Point to the west, is the only landlocked harbor in Jamaica and the Caribbean? The Harbour Master in Kingston, capital city in Jamaica has during approaching weather disturbances such as hurricanes; use Black River Harbour to berth seagoing vessels until the danger is passed.
- That Black River which is 44 miles long, is the largest river in Jamaica?
- That the first Moravian Missionaries that came to Jamaica, landed in Black River in the 1700s and that the region around Kepp Slave Estate had been the base for the Moravian Church’s Mission in Jamaica since 1757?
- That Farquharson’s Wharf – now owned by Hendricks and Company, was once a thriving slave market where Slave Owners from Kepp, Paynes Town, Hopeton and New Savannah would purchase slaves at auctions to work on their estates?
- That Archibald Monteath (1790s – 1864), the 9 year Igbo was captured in his native Nigeria in Africa, taken to Jamaica on a Merchant Ship used in the Atlantic Slave Trade and sold in an auction by Auctioneers Palarchie and Levy in the Slave Market at Farquharson’s Wharf to John Monteath, a Scottish born Planter and Slave Owner who took him to work on his slave estate at Kepp, New Market, Saint Elizabeth?
- That Archibald Monteath was given the name Toby but he gave up the name after he was christened as Archibald Monteath at Saint John’s Anglican Church, Black river, Saint Elizabeth in 1821?
- That the marriage between Archibald Monteath and Rebecca Hart, a slave, which took place in Saint John’s Anglican Church, Black River on January 8, 1826, was the first recorded marriage of two slaves in Jamaica, West Indies?
- That the marriage between Archibald Monteath and Rebecca Hart that took place in Saint John’s Anglican Church, Black River was on a Market Day when with the church packed with people they were ridiculed by people who witnessed the marriage ceremony of these two slaves?
- That Archibald Monteath who purchased his freedom from his Slave Master in 1832 prior to Emancipation in 1838 with assistance from the Moravian Church in England, became attracted to Christianity against the wish of his Slave Master and he joined the New Carmel Moravian Mission in 1827 where he became “Helper” or Prominent Assistant in the congregation?
- That dignity that Archibald Monteath did not receive in life, he received in his death when his mortal remains was not buried in the Slave Burial Ground at Paynes Town, New market, Saint Elizabeth but they were buried in the Moravian Church Cemetery at New Carmel in an area adjacent to where Moravian Missionaries are buried?
- That prior to Hydro-electric Power Plant in Maggoty, Saint Elizabeth that provided electricity to Black River, gigantic loud sounding Ruston Engines were used to turn huge generators that provided Black River with electricity after the era of the Leyden Brothers who first brought electricity to Black River in 1893? These gigantic belt driven Ruston Engines that were powered by diesel fuel were located in the building that is presently owned and occupied by Jamaica Public Service Company Limited as a Bill Paying and Operations Facility that is located at the corner of Central Road and School Street, Black River.
- School Street, Black River was so named because Bullock’s High School that was owned and operated by bespectacled Rev. Bullock of Saint John’s Anglican Church was located on this street?
- That School Street was referred to by natives in Black River as “Holy Wood” because of the sanctity and location of this street on which Grace Gospel Chapel, an Evangelical Church associated with Christian Brethren Assemblies in Jamaica?
- That mule drawn hearse painted in black and white with ringing bell driven by “PA DE”, a devout member of Saint John’s Anglican Church, was used to transport the remains of indigents who died at Black River Public General Hospital for burial in Black River Cemetery where “PA De” donned in his black long gown single handedly committed mortal remains?
- That the present site in which Black River Public General Hospital is located was once a Barracks for British Soldiers? This location on High Street to the intersection of High Street and West Street is still referred to as Barracks by people in Black River that was once occupied by the elites who were privileged with upward social mobility.
- That the reason that James “Dick” Richards, Beersheba Primary School Alumnus who was born in poverty in impoverished Carr District, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica west Indies had to walk from his birthplace to Kingston – distance of 115 miles – in search of work after he lost his parents at age 15 years, was because he could not afford to pay his fare on the boat that travelled from Black River to Kingston?
- That James “Dick” Richards whose journey from his native Carr District to Kingston took him four (4) days and that after he found employment in a bakery, he became a soldier, successful self-made businessman in Hamilton, Bermuda, Real estate Owner and Developer, the first black man to receive a license to own and operate a hotel in Hamilton, Bermuda, Principal Shareholder in Bermuda National Bank, Philanthropist and Icon?
- That James “Dick” Richards who is revered by people in his native Carr District and other adjoining District as “Bermuda King”, used his own money to purchase land from the Forde Family at Paynes Town, New Market, Saint Elizabeth to facilitate the construction of Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) by the Ministry of Education?
- That the land that James “Dick’ Richards purchased with his own money and donated t the Moravian Church in Jamaica, is views by many Stakeholders in Beersheba School Community as an impediment that the Moravian Church in Jamaica has been using to suppress the desire of the Community to rename Beersheba Primary School James Richards Beersheba Primary School?
- That Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) has received information that Saint Elizabeth Parish Council has taken appropriate action to ensure that a Story Board will be mounted at the entrance to Carr District on the road bank near Valdez Hamilton’s shop in honour of the invaluable contribution that James “Dick” Richards has made to the community in particular and to the town of Black River in general?
- That James “Dick” Richards is the genesis of the Twining of Municipalities of Hamilton, Bermuda and the town of Black River that was officially visited by a seven member delegation from the Municipal Council in Hamilton, Bermuda in July 2014 to tour Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased), Carr District, birthplace of James “Dick” Richards as well as to participate in the launching of the book FROM BEERSHEBA TO BERMUDA written by Vincent Samuels and activities of Black River Day that was held on July 30, 2014.
- That Black River Day which is organized by Saint Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce (Black River Chapter), has become an Annual Event that precedes Emancipation Day that is celebrated as a National Public Holiday on August 1?
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